Ashley Tisdale with the Alexander Wang Coco Duffel

I’m still not sure what Ashley Tisdale is famous for, besides High School Musical, but I gotta give it to the girl - she’s got great style. I had a few pairs of those tacky acid washed jeans back in high school but I wish I could have afforded luxury designer accessories to dress them up a bit. Tisdale was spotted recently in Los Angeles, California in a laid-back West Coast casual uniform of a vintage tee, skinny acid washed jeans topped by slouchy grey Christian Louboutin boots, red- framed sunglasses and the Alexander Wang Coco Duffel. The bag has been a fave of Mary Kate Olsen, who actually snagged one of these hot bags months before they even came out. Ahhh, the perks of being close friends with Alexander Wang. Anyway, Tisdale is carrying the black version but the denim leather version is my personal fave. The denim is exclusive to shopbop and is made of super-soft yet distressed, denim-style leather, and features two hidden zip pockets and a box pleat at the side. The coolest part are the metal studs at bottom which makes it super edgy.

 

Marc Jacobs Celebrates Launch of Stephen Sprouse-inspired Louis Vuitton Graffiti & Rose Collection

I swear it seems like a new Louis Vuitton style comes out every week! The good thing is most are available in limited editions but the designs are more of a fun fad and don’t transcend the seasons. The latest LV bags, apparel and accessories are from the Graffiti and Rose Collection.

Marc Jacobs and Stephen Sprouse first collaborated in 2001 to create the iconic Louis Vuitton Graffiti collection. Now the designer pays homage to Sprouse (who passed away in 2004) with the 2009 Graffiti and Rose Collection.

The new designs feature the same Sprouse-style graffiti – this time in not for the faint of heart Day-Glo colored graffiti (think neon pink, orange and green), overlaid on top of the Louis Vuitton Monogram print. The designs are on classic LV bags like the Speedy, Neverfull tote, and the large Keepall, as well as on sneakers, pumps, ballerina flats, leggings and scarves, bracelets and keychains.

Marc Jacobs’ said that the collection is actually not identical to the 2001 graffiti collection:

“I tried to take what Stephen had done at Vuitton and then kind of flip it in my head, and make it Vuitton’s work for Stephen, not Stephen’s work for Vuitton,” Jacobs said. “I just felt it was a funny way to play with it, to pretend to be Sprouse for a bit, and use the work that he did, and then bring it back to the work that he did before I collaborated with him.” - Marc Jacobs

Louis Vuitton’s new Graffiti and Rose Collection is already available in Louis Vuitton stores worldwide. Marc Jacobs recently appeared in Harper’s Bazaar January 2009 issue shot by Terry Richardson wearing nothing but Grafitti and the bags from the new collection.

Do you love the Louis Vuitton Graffiti redux? Are you planning to buy one of the pieces?

Images via WWD, Photographer: Terry Richardson

Carry On…

I just had to say that, in honor of Project Runway! I’ve been craving my fix of Tim Gunn-ism’s, Michael Kors and Nina Garcia’s snarky criticism, and real-time design (sort of), and tonight the show has returned for its fourth season!

Honestly, this post really has nothing to do with Project Runway, but in honor of Tim Gunn’s mantra, ‘Carry on’, I thought I’d feature a great carry-on bag. The ‘Holiday’ carry-on duffel bag by LuLA is the best bag for your holiday travel because it’s large and roomy but oh-so-chic! Made of brown cracked leather, the ‘Holiday’ has designer Angelica Cota’s signature leather trim on both sides, and her signature metal LuLA heart clasp closure. The weathered leather will only look better with time, and it’s sturdy enough to endure your holiday travels, even if you don’t!

$473, LuLA by Angelica Cota

MCM’s Eighties Throwback Bag

I may be dating myself but when I was in high school, MCM bags were haute. In fact, MCM was so popular that all the cool girls owned at least one bag, and the cool guys were getting the MCM logo custom printed on their ragtops. MCM has recently re-launched its line of bags, and I’m glad to see they maintained the style that made them hot, but with an added modern twist. The Medium Boston Duffle is classic MCM. Structured black leather is covered with a printed grey MCM logo, a Goyard-style painted stripe and signature lion insignia, and a rubber ‘1976′ side patch. This bag is a fresh alternative to the old faithful logoed bags (aka the Louis Vuitton ‘Speedy’, the Fendi ‘Spy’, and the Gucci ‘Boston’). Be a trendsetter and set yourself apart with this haute throwback bag.

$595, at Intermix.

Mike & Chris’ Hoodie-Inspired Handbags

Husband and wife design team Mike and Christine Gonzalez reinvented the hoodie with their eponymous line, Mike & Chris. They succeeded at creating the perfect stylish hoody for women, and now they’ve ventured into handbag design and the result is equally fabulous, hoodie-inspired purses. The styles consist of easy pieces that look as comfortable as their hoodies; that is, if you could ‘wear’ a handbag. The bags are made of distressed, weathered leather, giving the look and feel of relaxed urban street style.

The Alister Antiqued Leather Duffel ($968) is a double-flapped, zipped shoulder bag that has just the right combination of edge and class for day and night.

The Berkeley Antiqued Leather Hobo ($438) is a super slouchy shoulder bag that is Andrea Brueckner meets biker babe.

The Austin Large Antiqued Leather Saddle Bag ($875) is a military-style shoulder bag with exterior front cargo pockets and a snap closure.

Check out more of Mike & Chris’ chic urban styles here.

A Little L.A.M.B. and Some Harajuku Love

Gwen Stefani is a true celebrity fashionista, with her own unique style both on stage and everyday (sans the help of an over-hyped stylist). Both of her handbag lines, L.A.M.B. and Harajuku Lovers represent who she is, and who I am, for that matter.

With all the ‘It’ bags out there, I find myself being drawn to purses that take themselves a bit less seriously. I prefer tongue-in-cheek bags, interesting prints, and anything exceptionally different. So I adore her collections, the classic line stamped with Gwen influences; the other, a tribute to Japanese style, described as a ‘fatal attraction to cuteness.’ Cheeky and chic, these bags are haute, just like Gwen herself.